Vacuum-cleaner nozzle-adjusting means



Oct. -29, 1929.

E. MROSS VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 3l, 1928 Oct. 29, 1929. E. MRoss VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Oct. 3l, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 dwg-(7&7 MUSE), 73M i.

Oct. 29, 1929. E. MRoss VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE ADJUSTING UEANS Y Filed Oct. 51, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD MROSS, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNCR TO HAMILTON BEACH MFG. CO., OF RACINE, VJISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN VACUUM-CLEANER NOZZIIF-ADJUSTING MEANS Application filed October 31, 1928.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaner nozzle adjusting means.

The object of the invention is to provide means simple in construction and emcient for its intended purpose, which is to properly adjust the mouth of the suction nozzle relative to the surface to be cleaned. It is well understood that rugs and carpets provided with a long nap require the suction nozzle mouth to be raised with respect to the floor-engaging supports of the cleaner, whereas thin or short nap rugs or carpets may be more effectively cleaned by lowering the suction nozzle relative to said floor-engaging' support; although in any event, it is desirable to keep the nozzle slightly above the surface to be cleaned.

By the construction about to be described, a very simple dependable and inexpensive adjusting mechanism is produced, wherein the actuating knob is conveniently located and whereby the nozzle may be easily adjusted and maintained in one of a plurality of adjusted positions.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention, the handle and dust bag being broken away.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the forward portion of the machine, including the suction nozzle and fan casing.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the position of the parts when the nozzle is in its lowermost position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the same parts when the nozzle is in raised position.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, enlarged, of the forward part of the machine, partly in section as indicated by line 5 5 of Figure 3, the brush being eliminated from this view.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5, the sectional part being taken on the line indicated at 6 6 on Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the side opposite that shown in Figures 5 and 6, also partly in section, as indicated by line 7 7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of part of the adjusting means.

Serial No. 316,334.

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 of Figure S.

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view, detached, of the lever by which the wheel-carrying bar is connected to the nozzle.

Figure 12 is a perspective View, detached, of the wheel-carrying bar.

Figure 13 is a perspective view, detached, of part of the adjusting means.

The following is a general description of the vacuum cleaner to which my invention ias been applied. The body of the cleaner comprises a motor housing 15, substantially round, in transverse, vertical cross section, partially closed at its rear end 16, and pr0- vided with an outwardly extending flange 17 aD its forward end. Ventilating openings in the housing 15 are indicated at 15. Connected to said flange 17 by screws 18 is a fan casing 19, so arranged that the fan (not shown) will be in axial alignment with the motor shaft. A suction nozzle 20, terminating in a suction mouth 21, is preferably inL tegral with and extends forwardly and downwardly from the fan casing 19. The front wall 22 of the nozzle 20 has an opening therethrough, which is substantially in alignment with the axis of the fan, and said opening is normally closed by a removable plate 23. This opening in the wall 22 is provided for the purpose of accommodating a coupling (not shown) for an auxiliary suction tool which may be connected to a flange on the inner surface of the fan casing in such man# ner that communication between the fan chamber and suction mouth 21 is out off, and communication established between the auxiliary tool and said fan chamber. Not being a part of this invention, this auxiliary tool connection to the fan casing need not be described in detail.

The body of the cleaner is supported at the rear upon a roller 24 and near the forward end by a pair of rotatably mounted wheels 25. A stationary brush 26 is removably gage the sides of the motor housing 15, is removably and pivotally mounted on pins 30 which extend outwardly from the sides of said casing 15. The electric current wire 31 connects the motor with a source ot power through an extension cord usually carried on the handle 28. The fan casing 19 has the usual tubular extension 32, to which a dust bag 23 is removably secured.

Referring now more particularly to that part oi' the mechanism which it is intended to protect hereby, a bar 34 having rearwardly directed arms 35 is located between the nozzle 2O and fan casing 19, the wheels 25 being rotatably connected at 36 to said arms 35. The bar 34 is rigidly secured to a lever 37 having forwardly extending arms 38, the connection being made by rivets 39. The forwardly directed arms 38 are pivotally connected to downwardly extending lugs 40 on the under n surface of the nozzle 20, through the rod 41,

which extends through apertures in said lever arms 38 and lugs 40. The extent ot' pivotal movement of the lever 37 is limited by Contact between the end 38 or' one of the arms 38 with the lower surface of the nozzle 20. A spring 42 is wrapped around the rod 41, one end bearing against the under surface of the nozzle 2O and the other end under the lever 37, for the purpose of exerting upward pressure against said lever 37.

Closely in rear of and parallel with the wheel-carrying bar 34 is a flat lever 43 (shown vdetached in Figure 13), having an upward extension between its ends. terminating in a rearwardly directedY horizontally disposed ear 44. Thefree end oi the lever 43 has lan upward extension 45 terminating in an apertured part 46 substantially Circular in outline and so connected with the part 45 that stop shoulders 47 are formed at each side. A curved slot 48 is provided in the lever 43 and extension 45, for a purpose t0 be explained.

The lever 43 is pivotally secured at lone end by a screw 49 to the bar 34 and lever 37, said screw extending through the aperture indicated at 50 in F ignre 13 and through apertures in both of said parts 34 and 37. .The opposite end of the lever 43 is tree to move with respect to the wheel-carrying bar 34, but said movement is limited by the headed bolt 51 which extends through the slot- 48 and into said bar 34.

On the forward side of the extension member 45, 46, connected through on aperture 52, is a cam 53. having a plurality of cam surfaces 54 adapted to rest upon the upper edge 55 of the wheel-carrying bar 34. The cam is actuated by a knob 56, carrying a pin 57 which extends through an aperture in the cam 53 and functions not only to operatively conneet the cam and the knob but also to act as a stop to limit the cam movement in opposite directions by engagement of the pin 57 with the shoulders 47 on the lever 43. Said knob and cam are connected to the lever 43 by a headed screw bolt 58 extending through said parts and through the aperture 52 in the lever 43, held in place by a nut 59, as leest shown in Figure 9.

The ear 44 of the lever 43 is adapted to engage a depending lug 60 on the nozzle 20, near the fan casing 19.

rEhe operation of t-he device is as follows: Uien the actuating` knob 56 has been turned to the right (as viewed from the front of the machine), the cam 53 will be in the position shown in Figure 3, with the pin 57 in engagement with one ot the shoulders 47, the headed bolt 51 at the upper end of the slot 48 and the nozzle lug 60 bearing upon the ear 44 ot' the lever 43. The cam surface which vis in engagement with the upper surtace 55 of the wheel-carrying bar 34'in this position, is that surface 54 which is closest to the pivotal center 58 ot the cam, and, therefore, the suction nozzle 20 will be in its lowermost position. Five cam surfaces, progressively spaced a greater distance from said pivotal center, are provided so that the relative positions of the floor-engaging supports 25 and the nozzle 2O may be adjusted as desired. When the knob 56 is actuated toward the left (viewed from the front of the machine) the pin 57 will iinally engage the opposite shoulder 47 and the bolt 51 will be at the lower end of the slot 48, as shown in Figure 4, with the nozzle in its uppermost position with respect to the floor-engaging wheels 25.

The actuating ofthe cam alters the relative positions of the lever 43 and wheel-carrying bar 34, and consequently, through contact between the lever ear 44 and lug 60, the relative positions ot the nozzle and floor-engaging supports areadjusted. To raise the nozzle with respect to the wheels, the actuation of the cam physically lifts the forwardV part of the nozzle about the rear wheel 24 as a pivot,

and to lower said nozzle, the cam actuation permits said nozzle to drop by gravity as the ear 44 is lowered with the movement of the lever 43.

Obviously, changes in details of construci tion may be made without departing from the scope 01"; my invention, and I do not intend to be limitedto the precise torni shown and described, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle and a transversely extending wheelcarrying bar pivotally connected to the nozzle, means for adjusting the relative positions of the bar and said nozzle, said adjusting means including a lever pivotally connected at one end to the wheel-carrying bar and in contact with the nozzle, and a cam operatively connected to the opposite end ot Y the lever and bearing against said wheelcarrying bar, for adjusting the position of the lever relative to the wheel-carrying bar and .tor maintaining said lever in adjusted position.

2. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle and a wheel-carrying bar pivotally connected thereto, means for adjusting the relative positions of said bar and nozzle, said adjusting means including a lever pivotally connected to said bar and parallel therewith, said lever having an extension for the nozzle to bear upon, and means operatively connected with the lever for adjusting the position of the lever relative to said bar.

3. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle and a wheel-carrying bar pivotally connected thereto, means for adjusting the relative positions of said bar and nozzle, said adjusting means including a lever pivotally connected at one end with the wheel-carrying bar and parallel therewith, an upwardly directed extension on the lever in contact with the nozzle, a slotted extension at the lfree end of the lever, a headed bolt extending through said slot and into the wheelcarrying bar, a cam operatively connected to the lever and in engagement with said bar, and means or actuating the cam.

4f. A vacuum cleaner comprising a body portion having a fan casing and a forwardly and downwardly extending nozzle connected therewith, a wheel-carrying bar pivotally connected to the nozzle, means for normally holding the wheel-carrying bar in raised position, a lever pivotally connected to said wheel-carrying bar and located closely adjacent to and parallel with said bar, an upwardly directed extension on said lever for the nozzle to bear upon, the free end of the lever being slotted, a headed bolt extending through said slot and into the bar, a cam' op! eratively connected to the lever and having its cam surface in engagement wit-h the wheel-carrying bar, and means for actuating the cam.

5. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle and a wheel-carrying bar pivotally connected thereto, means for adjusting the relative positions of said bar and nozzle, said adjusting means including a cam` a lever pivotally connected to the wheel-carrying bar, the `free end of the lever being slotted and having a cam-carrying extension Jformed with shoulders for limiting the movement of the cam in opposite directions, and means for actuating the cam.

6. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle and a wheel-carryingbar pivotally connected thereto, means for adjusting the relative positions of said bar and nozzle, said adjusting means including a cam, a pin on the cam, a lever pivotally connected to the wheel-carrying bar, the free end of the lever being slotted and having a cam-carrying eX- tension formed with shoulders for engaging the cam pin for limiting the movement o? the cam in opposite directions, and means for actuating the cam.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my sole invention, I ailix my signature, this 22nd day of October, 1928.

EDWARD MROSS. 

